Sweden's defence must be well-prepared to be able to defend the country, but also to contribute to stability in the surrounding world. This requires a defence system that is adapted to today's threats and to the rapid sequences of events in which conflicts arise and are determined. This requires an operational defence that is functional and available. The Government is therefore establishing a new focus for Swedish defence, a focus that will provide a significantly stronger defence capability.

Sweden works in many different ways to promote peace, secure societies and international cooperation around the Baltic Sea, in Europe and in the world. Sweden's security policy aims at preserving Sweden's liberty and national independence, contributing to stability and security in our vicinity and strengthening international peace and security.

The international commitment is one of the most important tasks of the Swedish total defence. International peace support and humanitarian operations are channels through which we help to make the world a safer place.

International law: the laws of war

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for introducing the rules of international humanitarian law in Sweden, i.e. the parts of international law that are applicable in the event of armed conflict.